To the editor:

I just don’t get Rep. Elise Stefanik.

To her credit, I called one of her offices two years ago asking for help with a portion of my health care coverage (I’m a retired veteran) and was very impressed with the results, for which I remain grateful. I just don’t understand her devotion to President Trump.

If I were a gambler, I’d bet heavily that history will not be kind to him, seeing how the words “pathological liar,” “thug,” “bully,” “moron,” “racist birther conspiracy nonsense,” “international disgrace,” “never reads,” “chauvinist,” “narcissist,” “misogynist,” “delusional” and “detached from reality” seem to follow him around the way clouds of gnats follow golfers. And this was before the events of Jan. 6, when the words “anarchist” and “insurrectionist” entered the list. I wonder why anybody would give him the time of day, no less vote for him.

I remember well how Richard Nixon became so toxic that nobody who so much as wanted to run for dog catcher would go near him, even though it can be argued that he actually did some good things worth remembering. He stopped the fighting in Vietnam, tore down the diplomatic walls between the U.S. and China, signed off on creating the EPA …

What has Mr. Trump done to prompt such fond remembrances? The bigger question is: What does a Harvard-educated person like Ms. Stefanik see in him? Does she really believe Joe Biden “stole” the 2020 election?

She said, “Tens of millions of Americans are concerned that the 2020 election features unconstitutional overreach by unelected officials and judges, ignoring state election laws. We can and we should peacefully discuss these concerns.”

Is she serious? When you consider all of Mr. Trump’s outlandish behavior since he lost the election, what does she expect to gain by having such phrases attached to her name as “ardent Trump supporter” and “staunch ally” of his?

OK — so what if Mr. Trump won the 21st District by a wide margin two months ago. Does that require her to become “Madam Faust” and sell her soul to the devil so as not to alienate all those Trump voters?

After he incited that violent mob to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6 using such language as, “Fight like hell,” and, “You’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong,” resulting in five deaths and untold damage, she said, “I hope the president and I know the president will forcefully condemn these violent acts today.”

Oh yeah. He condemned them all right — by telling members of the mob, “We love you. You’re very special.”

Considering her unwavering devotion to him, she should be thankful I’m not her senior political guru because I would be telling her, “Drop him like a sociopathic prom date. He’s NOT worth it.”

Steven B. Lester

Lake Placid